Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-25

would become so sWlfJ anu powerful tndt |
no boat bound up could stem it, and to |
take barge up would be next TO impos- |
sible, while another equally disastrous
result would be the lowering of the pool
above so as 10 endanger navigation still
further up. The channel of the Missis>
sippi is, understand, now being reduce
ed to minimum depth of six feet from
rapids. But of what benefit will this
vast improvement be with the rapids in
their present condition.
The upper and lower rapids of the
Mississippi are the pivotal points about
which all the problems of the safe navi-
CATION of the greatest waterways in the
country are centered. The lower, or
Des Moines rapids have been avoided by
a canal capable of accommodating the
largest packet boats that navigate the
upper river, and with the completion of
the dredging work above the Rock Island
rapids, waterway open TO the largest
river steamers or canal boats will be
opened from St. Paul to the gulf, ex-
cepting only the fourteen miles of shall
low rapids from iRock Island to Port
Byron.
The plan of avoiding the Rock Island
rapids by canal similar to the keokuk
canal around the Des Moues rapids. has
been considered in its various aspects
since the problem of upper river navigs>
ton by steam vessels first engaged the
attention of engineers. 4 survey was
| made under the direction OF General
Warren for a canal on the Iowa side from
LeClsire TO Davenport, but was consid-
| cred impracticable on account of the vast
amount of rock cutting and the expense
necessarily attending the same. 1t is
f! singular that no survey for a canal was
made on the Illinois side, since it is much
more level, less abrupt IN large part of
the distance, and the rock lies far,
Their below the surface, but for
some reason no estimate was made for "a
canal on this side of the river. The bed
| of limestone. with occasional strata of
shale and occasional boulders, which un-
derlies the river throughout the course of
| the rapids seems to have been worn down
by the water in the present river bed,
| leaving the stone on the banks several
feet higher than the river bed, coming in
| MANY places to the surface of the ground.
| as 1t does between Seventeenth and
Eighteenth streets in Rock Island; also
above Moline at Velie's park; also above
Hampton at Sycamore chain, and it is al
the latter place where the deepest and
hardest cutting must be done on any
canal to be constructed on the Illinois
side of the river.
All of the plans heretofore considered
for lateral canal on the Illinois side
were based on the level of the Mississippi
in the pool at Port Byron at low water, il
being considered necessary to go at least
six feet below this level to obtain water
supply for the canal, or to erect expen'
sive pumping works to enable vessels tt
lock in and out at both ends. To GU
below the low water level of the rive
meant the expenditure of million dollar
mile for the first six miles of the canal
and pumping works TO fill and run sucl
canal were almost as expensive.
In his last report of work done on tn,
Rock Island and Des Moines rapids, Ma
jor Mackenzie gives an estimate of tn
|
! channel at low water over Rock Islam
rapids at So, 491 900. The estimates 70
work already done were 1918. 6N1 so, an,
the actual cost-not including 1861
81, 1865, $50. In the same proportion tn
cost o. completing the work already be
= gun, so as 10 give six-fo0t channel
would be over rather than under 81. 500
600
Again, to make six foot deep steam
= boat channel will destroy the northern, o
= RATS channel at any ordinary stage of tn
A water, even if it does not do away wit
the pool between Sycamore and Camp
bell chains. and partially drain the po
IL at the head of the rapids. so that it ms
IS be seen at a glance that if a lateral can
e is feasible, it will be vastly more benef
cial to every river interest, than an
deepening or widening of the camel ca
l. possibly be; it will leave the presel
" steamboat channel clear for RATS a,
overcome any objections to lockage
h the increased speed which can be ma,
in the still water of the canal. which "
a' be free from locks for its whole lengt
e, unless it is thought desirable to put
m one at or near Watertown; and any can
aa which can be built for 81 coo, 900 or lie.
will be economical and expedient, and
case the Hennepin canal should ever
constructed at or below Rock Island,
absolute necessity. 1t seems now
though every objection which has be
~ heretofore urged against a canal ON I
Illinois side of the rapids can be swe
out of the way, and caral built al Ii
cost than the estimate for future rapi
improvement calls for and certainly L
than the cost of the keokuk canal, viii
was "a. 4S0,6S0.
When a survey was made for the He
nepln canal to Watertown, called
Watertown route, it was fou
that on line run from the lie
of Rock river at Penny slou
to the Mississippi at WATERFOWL, hi
of over eleven feet was obtained at Wat
for town above the low water level Of
|. Mississippi, and it is this fact which !
solve the problem of building late
canal from Port Byron to Rock Islal
1t will make it possible to avoid all 70
m cutting, except sufficient to obtain ST
inc for rip-rapping. and will allow vessel
ne, lock out at both ends of the contempls
canal. A feeder from Rock river
not cost to exceed 100000, and u
tile occasion NO uneasiness to our cltiz